Schumacher quickest in Jerez test
Although Michael Schumacher only ran one day of the recent three day test for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team at the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain, he was instantly quicker than his opposition ending up almost a full second faster by the end of the day and 76 laps of running. The weather was ideal throughout the test - no wind and warm sunny days.
The initial testing on Tuesday was carried out by Eddie Irvine and Luca Badoer , Irvine setting the second best time of the first day with a 1m 25,83 secs after 82 laps, Badoer running 106 laps with a best of 1m 28,30 secs. On Wednesday Irvine ran 47 laps improving to 1m 25,304 secs concentrating on a tyre development programme for Bridgestone before leaving the circuit on Wednesday night. "It was the first time I have run the Bridgestone tyres and they feel very well suited to our car," said Irvine.
Badoer's car was converted to long wheelbase form in order to gather data for next year's car , Badoer running a similar distance to record a best of 1m 26,54 secs.
Michael Schumacher arrived on Thursday and ran 76 laps continuing the tyre testing programme off different compounds and constructions. He set a 1m 24,46 secs early in the morning before improving to a very quick 1m 23,83 second by the end of the day, the only driver to go below 1m 24,0 secs and only 2,8 seconds off his pole position time in 1997 and the cars in the 1997 regulation specification.
Badoer continued to test the long wheelbase car running 82 laps with a best of 1m 26,31 secs, his best of the test.
Heidfeld back for McLaren
With Mika Hakkinen still occupied with a few days rest and personal appearances since winning the title, it was again test driver Nick Heidfeld who joined David Coulthard at McLaren for the Jerez test. Coulthard set the best time of the first day with 1m 25,56 secs and running 48 laps, Heidfeld setting a 1m 27.0 secs with just 23 laps.
The team was concentrating on assessing carious components for next year's car and on Wednesday it was heidfeld with the fastest time of the day of 1m 25,01 secs after 61 laps, Coulthard running 45 laps with a best of 1m 25,75 secs. On Thursday Coulthard improved by a full second with 49 laps to end the week with a best of 1m 24,75 secs, second fastest time of the test. Heidfeld was fifth fastest for the week with his Wednesday time and on the day for Thursday with a best of 1m 25,26 secs running 59 laps.
Schumacher and Zanardi out for Williams in Jerez
The Williams team ran both their new 1999 drivers Alex Zanardi and Ralf Schumacher throughout the test, Schumacher running 41 laps on Tuesday with a best of 1m 26,14 secs while Zanardi, troubled by the handling of his car did not better 1m 27,73 secs after 43 laps.
On Wednesday Ralf Schumacher was second fastest to Heidfeld's McLaren with 54 laps and a best of 1m 25,02 secs, Zanardi running 75 laps and improving to 1m 26,01 secs. "Everything is going OK and it's great that we are on the pace," said Schumacher. "We are carrying out important test work with an eye to the 1999 car," he explained.
On Thursday Schumacher got below 1m 25,0 secs after 36 laps to share the third fastest time of the day and the overall test with Heinz Harald Frentzen who also set a 1m 24,93 secs. Zanardi ran 53 laps and improved further to 1m 25,52 secs. "Everything is going well," said the Italian, "Each time I jump in the car it feels better and more comfortable . I haven't reached my peak yet , but I am at the steepest part of the learning curve so I am learning more each time I go out," added Zanardi.
Frentzen delighted with his first real test for Jordan
Other than a few exploratory laps in Japan after the Grand Prix, Heinz Harald Frentzen got down to his first serious test for his new Jordan team in Jerez running all three days on his own.
He ran 67 laps on Tuesday to take the fourth fastest time at 1m 26,87 secs and then improved to 1m 25,37 secs on Wednesday after another 64 laps which saw him go off at the hairpin trying to avoid a suddenly slowing Badoer in the Ferrari.
On Thursday he set his best time of 1m 24,93 secs and another 51 laps before stopping at 1,30 pm when his engine had run out of miles.
"It was a very positive test from all aspects," remarked Frentzen. "I got some good experience working on different set-ups with the car, verifying data for the new tyres and working with the Jordan engineers. We carried out some useful tyre testing as well as some aerodynamic changes to the car which ran faultlessly throughout the entire test," he added. The team will run another three day test in Barcelona next week, Frentzen scheduled to run one day and Hill two.
Diniz and Muller for Sauber
Pedro Diniz got three days of useful testing time in the Sauber in Jerez, the Brazilian running steadily for 86 laps the first day, 70 on Wednesday and 59 on Thursday to set the most miles of the test , his best time coming on the final day with a 1m 25,91 secs for seventh fastest overall. In contrast, Muller was plagued with electronic problems from the new 1999 system he was trying and did only three laps on Tuesday and 10 laps on Wednesday.
Things improved on Thursday and he was able to run 24 laps with a best of 1m 26,78 secs , slowest time of the week.
First BAR test delayed
The planned first test of the BAR team's new car had to be postponed until next week in Barcelona after Bridgestone declined to supply tyres outside the common test session in Jerez.
Sarrazin back with Prost and Trulli
Jarno Trulli was again joined by Stephane Sarrazin during testing for the Prost team in Jerez, Trulli continuing testing with the revised AP01B chassis with the new A18 engine and new gearbox, while Sarrazin continued where he left off in Barcelona last week with the Ap01 chassis also running the new gearbox.
On Tuesday Trulli had to learn the circuit in an F1 car and set a 1m 27,72 secs after 66 laps , while Sarrazin was running the circuit for the first time and set a 1m 28,17 secs after 54 laps.
On Wednesday Trulli ran race simulation tests running 85 laps and a best time of 1m 27,41 secs, Sarrazin continuing work on an electronic differential which had some problems and ran only 32 laps and a best of 1m 26,88 secs. On Thursday Trulli ran 50 laps with a best of 1m 26,22 secs, Sarrazin running 47 laps and a best of 1m 26,67 secs.
Benetton stay at home again
After missing the Barcelona test last week, the Benetton team continued to work flat out on their 1999 car which should be unveiled around mid-January. They will also miss the Barcelona test next week.
Arrows yet to decide
After not taking part in the Jerez test , the Arrows team plans to run in Barcelona next week, but has yet to decide which driver will run the test , the choice being between Mika Salo and test drivers Emmanuel Collard and Steve Watson. There is still no official news of the team's second driver for next year nor the possibility of a partner in the team.
Stewart-Ford stays at home
The Stewart team preferred to stay back at base and work on their 1999 SF3 chassis which is a lot more advanced than their previous car was at the same time last year. Testing plans will be made for the new year following the decisions about tyre supply from Bridgestone.